CHEMICAL RESISTANCE (RAIN GEAR)
General Chemical Resistance Chart for Rain Gear Materials
Rainwear used in industrial, aquaculture, fisheries, food processing, and chemical applications is manufactured from several different materials, each with distinct chemical resistance characteristics. The chart below provides a general comparison for common rain gear fabrics under normal ambient conditions (20–25°C).
| Chemical / Chemical Class | PVC | Polyurethane (PU) | Neoprene | Nitrile Rubber | EPDM | Natural Rubber | Polyester/PVC Coated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh water | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Seawater | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Salt solutions | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Dilute acids | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Concentrated acids | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Dilute alkalis | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Concentrated alkalis | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Alcohols | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mineral oils | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Animal fats | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Diesel fuel | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Gasoline | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hydraulic oils | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Bleach | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Hydrogen peroxide | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Formalin | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Fish slime & biological fluids | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Aromatic solvents | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ketones | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Resistance Ratings
| Rating | Description |
|---|---|
| ★★★★★ | Excellent – Suitable for prolonged exposure |
| ★★★★☆ | Very Good – Suitable for routine industrial use |
| ★★★☆☆ | Good – Intermittent exposure acceptable |
| ★★☆☆☆ | Fair – Short-term exposure only |
| ★☆☆☆☆ | Poor – Not recommended |
Common Rainwear Materials
| Material | Advantages | Typical Uses |
|---|---|---|
| PVC | Waterproof, economical, excellent resistance to water, acids, alkalis, and bleach | Fisheries, aquaculture, food processing, wash-down operations |
| Polyurethane (PU) | Lightweight, flexible, breathable, comfortable | Food processing, general industrial work, outdoor rainwear |
| Neoprene | Excellent resistance to weather, ozone, acids, and moderate petroleum exposure | Commercial fishing, diving gear, chemical splash protection |
| Nitrile Rubber | Outstanding resistance to petroleum products, oils, and fuels | Oil handling, industrial maintenance, fuel transfer |
| EPDM | Superior resistance to weathering, steam, acids, alkalis, and oxidizing chemicals | Chemical plants, wastewater treatment, outdoor work |
| Polyester with PVC coating | Strong, abrasion-resistant, waterproof | Heavy-duty commercial fishing and industrial rain gear |
| Natural Rubber | Flexible and waterproof but limited resistance to oils, fuels, and ozone | General-purpose rainwear and agricultural use |
Material Selection by Industry
| Industry | Recommended Material |
|---|---|
| Commercial fishing | PVC-coated polyester, Neoprene |
| Aquaculture | PVC, PU, Neoprene |
| Food processing | PU, PVC |
| Chemical wash-down | PVC, EPDM |
| Water treatment | PVC, EPDM |
| Fuel handling | Nitrile, Neoprene |
| Oil & gas | Nitrile, Neoprene |
| Marine maintenance | PVC-coated polyester, Neoprene |
Recommendations
- PVC-coated polyester is the most common material for commercial fishing and aquaculture rain gear because it combines excellent waterproofing, abrasion resistance, and resistance to saltwater, fish slime, blood, disinfectants, and most cleaning chemicals.
- Polyurethane (PU) is preferred where lightweight, breathable, and comfortable rainwear is important, although it is less resistant to petroleum products.
- Neoprene provides excellent all-around chemical resistance and is often chosen for harsher marine and industrial environments.
- Nitrile rubber offers the best protection where rain gear may be exposed to oils, diesel fuel, gasoline, lubricants, or hydraulic fluids.
- EPDM is the preferred material for exposure to strong acids, alkalis, ozone, weathering, steam, and oxidizing chemicals, but it should not be used where petroleum oils or fuels are present.
